25 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die

25. Withnail And I

Bruce Robinson hasn't directed many films in his time, but when he does, they're worth watching. Often because they include powerhouse performances by Richard E Grant, as both How To Get Ahead In Advertising and the director's previous Withnail And I did. The latter is both a cult classic and also the worst possible film to drink along with.

Based loosely on the experiences of Robinson, the film follows Paul McGann's titular “I” and his squat-buddy Withnail (played by Grant), the latter of whom is a spectacularly melodramatic and histrionic hedonist who, over the course of the film, imbibes almost every fluid or illegal substance he can get his hands on. It's a barnstormer from Grant.

Not that it's just his character that drives the film. McGann's an ideal foil to Withnail's antics, and they both get put in their place when they go to stay at the country house of Withnail's rich relative – played by an amusingly amorous Richard Griffiths – who engages “I” in some Benny Hill-esque antics. The raucous, dirty, English version of a road movie.